Rainbow Soul Live: Exploring Black Queer Expression at the 2024 Ovahness Summit

A Case Study in Cultural Commentary, Community Scholarship & Ballroom Pedagogy

🧠 The Opportunity

Ovahness Weekend, powered by REACH LA, is the longest-running ballroom-centered summit in Los Angeles — blending HIV education, youth leadership, and cultural preservation through the lens of the ballroom scene. For its 2024 gathering, the Summit sought to deepen intellectual engagement with the legacies that continue to shape the House and Ballroom community today.

Enter C. Aigner “Anye Elite” Ellis, who was invited to preview the first chapter of his forthcoming book Rainbow Soul with a live, multimedia presentation titled:

“The Evolution of Black Queer Expression Through Music”

🎯 Presentation Goals

• Educate: Contextualize the Black queer roots of modern pop and ballroom culture through a musical timeline.

• Activate: Offer thought leadership on the power of music as an archival tool of resistance, style, and survival.

• Connect: Inspire next-gen community artists, ballroom leaders, and REACH LA alumni to continue the work of cultural documentation.

🛠 Icon City’s Contribution

• Presentation Development: Icon City supported the formatting, graphics, and archival sourcing of materials from Rainbow Soul.

• Performance Integration: The talk included curated audio clips, artist breakdowns, and interactive dialogue with audience members.

• Narrative Strategy: Tied music history to HIV prevention, Black resistance, and LGBTQ+ identity — reinforcing REACH LA’s mission.

🎤 Program Highlights

• Live lecture at Ovahness Leadership Summit 2024

• Referenced icons from Sylvester, Frankie Knuckles, and Big Freedia to contemporary creators

• Integrated themes of vulnerability, visibility, and legacy in Black queer music

📊 Impact

• Standing-room only session with youth, elders, and ballroom legends in attendance

• Affirming feedback from attendees who saw their own stories in the sonic evolution

• Increased anticipation for the full release of Rainbow Soul in 2025

💡 Icon City Alignment

This project reflects our thesis:

“Preserving Our Story is a Form of Public Health.”

By framing Black queer expression through music as both historical and therapeutic, this work supports REACH LA’s core mission — and shows how storytelling can be a form of cultural medicine.

🔗 Looking Forward

The Rainbow Soul project will continue through readings, panel appearances, and digital excerpts in advance of its 2025 release.

📚 Interested in hosting a Rainbow Soul live session? Get in Touch